But the redundancy rate in Britain is generally lower than a decade ago, suggesting the current “productivity malaise” – where GDP figures remain sluggish amid relatively high employment – stems from an underlying, structural weakness in the UK economy, the report by The Jobs Economist claims.

The study, which comes as Office for National Statistics figures are today expected to showemploymentrose substantially in the final quarter of last year, shows redundancy rates since 2008 have generally been lower than in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the economy was enjoying a healthy rate of growth.

John Philpott, director of The Jobs Economist, said: “The fall in the normal rate of redundancy might therefore indicate that the current productivity malaise is not merely a consequence of the financial crisis and resulting major recession but has its roots in economic developments prior to the crisis, which bodes ill for future growth prospects.”

Mr Philpott said the decline in the redundancy rate could also be attributed to improved employee relations, companies trying harder to retain staff and pay restraint, which has made it cheaper to employ people.

But, he said: “The lower than expected level of redundancies in recent years ... is in fact symptomatic of a longer term structural change in the economic and business climate which has resulted in a lower propensity to make staff redundant.”

The report also revealed that of those made redundant since 2008, two thirds were men. But the last two years have been the worst for women losing their jobs, reflecting public sector spending cuts.

A separate analysis shows women in their 50s suffer the worst gender pay gap in the UK, earning almost a fifth less than men of the same age.

The TUC study found that full-time women workers in their 50s earned an average of just under £12 an hour, compared with £14.69 for men.

Women in their 50s also earn less than women in their 30s, according to the report, published ahead of the ONS figures on pay and jobs today.

The TUC said that half of women in their 50s were in part-time jobs, with most earning less than £10,000 a year.

The number of women working past the age of 50 has increased significantly, but the TUC voiced concern about the quality of jobs they were offered.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Part-time work is the only option available for many older women who also have to look after loved ones, either their grandchildren or their own parents, or who may no longer be able to work long hours. As the workforce ages, it’s essential that people are able to work part-time hours without having to give up decent pay. Most of us will have caring responsibilities at some point in our lives and it’s not right that looking after loved ones still has such a damaging effect on women’s pay and career prospects.”

ONS figures are today expected to show that employment rose by 117,000 in the final quarter of last year, with below-inflation pay growth of 1.4pc in December, according to a poll of analysts on Bloomberg.

Not a latte jobs

More than 1,700 job hunters applied for just eight jobs at a new branch of Costa Coffee in Nottingham, in an indication of how tough the jobs market remains.

Costa said it was “shocked” to receive 1,701 applications for three full-time and five part-time roles, paying up to £10-an-hour, after advertising in early December.

The chain received a wave of applications from people previously employed by HMV, which went into administration last month, and Clinton Cards, which went bust last year. Unsuccessful applicants included senior retail managers with over 15 years experience.